Garment buck apparatus



United States Patent 3,272,408 GARMENT BUCK APPARATUS Virgil R. Carpenter, Roseville, and James E. Jennings,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to The Unipress Com pany, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 12, 1965, er. No. 455,181 22 Claims. (Cl. 22373) This invention relates to new and novel buck apparatus for receiving the tubular portions of a garment and tensioning said tubular portions to draw them taut in order to facilitate the provision of sharper creases. More particularly this invention relates to a new and novel buck having a pair of elongated, relative thin wings, which are movable independent of one another, and which are constantly retained under tension in the direction of elongation.

In the field of pressing garments such as pants, one of the problems has been to find a buck assembly extendable into the leg of pants, transversely expandable to draw the leg portion taut, and still have wings of sufficient thinness and rigidity to permit the provision of a sharp crease. The aforementioned problem is enhanced by the fact that such a buck in order to be commercially feasible, has to be usable with a wide variety of sizes and styles of pants. In order to overcome the problems of the aforementioned nature, this invention has been made.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel buck apparatus extendable into the tubular portions of a garment, particularly the legs of a pair of pants, and expandable to draw said tubular portions taut whereby a sharp crease may be obtained during the pressing operation. A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel garment buck to receivingly hold the tubular portion of the garment and having wings expandable outwardly of one another, and at the same time permitting one wing expanding independent of the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel pants buck apparatus having elongated, relatively thin wings that are constantly kept under tension in the direction of elongation. A further object of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for mounting and moving a pair of buck wings between an extended and a retracted condition. In furtherance of the last mentioned objective, it is a still further object this invention to provide a common actuator for both wings that is free floating other than its connection to the linkages for moving the respective wings between an expanded and a retracted condition.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described, and claimed, and will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

This invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pants buck apparatus of this invention showing the two buck assemblies thereof in a wing expanded condition;

FIGURE 2 is generally a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the buck assemblies of FIGURE 1 other than the wings are illustrated in a retracted, datum condition,

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said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 7 and having a central portion broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the structure illustrated by the upper portion of FIGURE 2 other than the wings are shown in a maximum expanded condition;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the structure illustrated in the lower portion of FIG- URE 2 other than the wings are in an expanded condi tion;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical crosssectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the mounting of the lower end of a wing plate and portions of the linkages for operating the rear wing plate between an extended and a retracted condition;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 3 to show the mounting of the upper end of the rear wing plate; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrow 77 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES l and 2, the buck apparatus of this invention includes a left buck assembly generally designated 11, a right buck assembly generally designated 12, an upwardly inclined pivot rod 13 for each buck assembly, a support member 14 for mountingly retaining the rods 13 in spaced relationship, and suitable structures 15 for supportably mounting the support member 14 in an elevated condition. The two rods 13 have a central axis of elongation lying in a common plane, but are mounted to have their upper ends more closely adjacent one another than the lower ends which are suitably joined to support member 14.

Since each of the buck assemblies 11 and 12 are of substantially the same construction other than that one is a left hand buck assembly and the other is a right hand buck assembly, only the left hand buck assembly 11 will be described. Buck assembly 11 includes an elongated, vertically extending, tubular post 16 that at its upper portion is welded to the back vertical edge of the cam plate 17. Cam plate 17 has an opposite inclined edge portion to which there is welded a pair of annular members 18 which in turn are pivotally supported on rod 13 for pivotal movement relative thereto. Since the annular members 18 are mounted in spaced relationship the cam plate can only pivot about the central inclined, elongated axis of rod 13.

Mounted on the upper end portion of the tubular post is a leg cap 20 that has sidewall portions 20a, 20b extending along opposite sides of the post 16 to horizontally converge toward one another on the back transverse side of the post, a curved back wall 200 joining the rearward edges of walls 20a and 20b, and horizontal, lower inturned flanges 20d having adjacent edges that are horizontally spaced from one another. The cap is open at the top; and between the inturned flanges. Wall 20a, extends horizontally in front of post 16 to converge toward the corresponding wall portion of the other buck assembly with the cam plates 17 of buck assemblies 11, 12 located between walls 20a.

To the lower end of the post there is welded a cam .arm 22 that has a depending portion 22a extending radially outwardly from the post in the same direction as cam plate 17 and has a transversely extending portion 22b that at one end is integrally joined to the portion 22a and then extends transversely beneath the post to have an opposite, generally vertical edge located a substantial distance transversely outwardly of the continuation the post than the rear edge 28a of the wing plate.

.of the central vertical axis of the post. The bottom edge of portion 22b provides a curved cam surface 220 for purposes to be explained hereinafter, The upper end of part 22a is bifurcated to pivotally receive and mount the bottom wing clamp 26 of the front wing assembly, generally designated 25, between the bifurcated branches. A horizontal pivot member 27 pivotally connects the bottom clamp to the bifurcated portion of part 22a such that the back, generally vertical, edge of clamp 26 is spaced a substantial distance radially outwardly of post 16.

The bottom clamp clampingly holds the lower edge :portion of the front wing plate 28, the wing plate being elongated in a vertical direction and having an upper end portion clampingly retained between lower portions 290 of the clamp 29. Clamp 29 has a second portion 29a extending upwardly above the front wing which has a rear edge a substantially greater distance outwardly of The portion 29a has a nut 30 welded thereto for receiving one threaded end of a bolt of the turn buckle 31. The opposite threaded end of the second turn buckle bolt is slidably extended through a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates 32 and 33 and has an enlarged head end abutable against the top surface of plate 33. Plate 32 has opposite edges Welded to the cam follower bracket 34, one cam follower bracket portion extending upwardly on either side of the cam plate 17. A coil spring 35 is provided on said second bolt of the turn buckle and has one end bearing against plate 32 and the opposite end bearing against plate 33 to resiliently urge plate 33 upwardly above plate 32, plate 33 being free to move relative cam follower members 34. Due to the provision of the turn buckle, plates 32, 33 and coil spring 35, the top clamp 29 is always resiliently urged upwardly relative the bottom clamp 26, thereby constantly placing the wing plate 28 under constant tension.

The top clamp has an upright portion 2% that at its lower end is integrally joined to portion 29a and has an upper end slidably extended between opposite portions of bracket 34 and located transversely forwardly of plate 32. When the front Wing is being moved to the expanded position of FIGURE 3, plate 32 is abutable against the back edge of top clamp portion 29b to force it outwardly and thereby relieve the strain on the turn buckle. In this connection, it is to be noted that plate 32 has an aperture substantially larger than the bolt extended therethrough to permit limited pivoted movement of the turn buckle in addition to slidable movement relative the plate 32.

A cam follower roller 38 is rotatably mounted between opposite cam follower bracket portions by a stud shaft 39, bracket 34 having ears 34a that extend upwardly above stud shaft 39. The roller is positioned to roll on the cam surface 40a of the transversely elongated cam slot 40 which is provided in the cam plate 17. Cam surface 40a is curved to have equal radii from said surface to the pivot axis of pivot member 27. Accordingly, as the roller 38 is moved from one end of the slot (see FIG- URE 2) to the opposite end of slot (see FIGURE 3) it maintains the same spacing from the axis of pivot member 27 A horizontally elongated bar 40 has one end welded to post 16 at an elevation between wing plate 28 and cam plate 17 to extend transversely outwardly from the post in a direction diametrically opposite cam plate 17. Bar 40 extends intermediate the side walls of the top cap 20 and has a vertically extending aperture in its opposite end to have an intermediate portion of bolt 44 slidably extended therethrough. An intermediate portion of the bolt forms a loose fit with the aforementioned aperture. A coil spring 46 is provided on the upper end of bolt 44 and has one end bearing against bar 40 and an opposite end bearing against a nut threaded on the top end of bolt 44. The opposite end of bolt 44 is bifurcated to extend on opposite sides of the top clamp 48 and is piv- 4 otally connected thereto by a pivot 49. Clamp plates 48 clampingly bear against the upper end of the rear Wing 50. As may be noted from FIGURE 3, the upper edge portion of forward edge 50a is spaced a substantial distance transversely outwardly of the post by the aforementioned connections to the post.

A vertical elongated block II!) is attached to clamp 48 to extend thereabove, block 110 having a rear curved edge little that substantially forms a continuation of wing edge 5017. Block 110 extends between cap walls 20a, 20b radially outwardly of post 40 and bolt 44, and extends to a higher elevation than said bolt. The block substantially fills the space between the rear vertical edges of walls 20a, 20b to about the lower edge of wall 20c, and in a wing retracted condition, edge 110a substantially forms a continuation of wall 20c (see FIGURE 2).

Each of the clamps 26, 29 and 48- include clamp plate portions on opposite sides of the respective wing end portion and bolted thereto in clamping relationship (for example note FIGURE 6). The opposite, generally horizontal edges of the wing plates, 502 for the top edges of wing 5d, is rolled. The rolled portion provides reinforcement and bears against surfaces of the clamp plate portions to minimize the likelihood of the respective wing plate being pulled out of clamping engagement between the plate portions. Likewise note the rolled portion 500 between clamp plates 53 in FIGURE 5.

The wing 50 extends downwardly and its lower end extends between the upper ends of a pair of clamp plates 53 which are riveted to the wing. The clamp plates 53 extend downwardly on either side of portion 22b of the cam arm and at a substantial distance therebeneath converge toward one another to be joined at edge portion 53a. A cam follower roller 54 is rotatably mounted between plates 53 by a pivot member 55 which in turn is mounted by said plates 53. Roller 54 is located to rotatably bear against cam surface 22c of the cam arm 22, the cam surface having constant radii of curvature about the axis of pivot 49.

In order to transversely move the clamp plates 53 such that the roller rides against surface 220 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, a pair of cars 58 are welded to the upper rearward end portion of part 22b, one end of control link 60 being extended between said ears and pivotally connected thereto by a pivot member 59. The opposite end of the control link is welded to the mid-portion of the elongated links 62. The one ends of the links 62 extend on either side of the plate 53. There is provided a short link 64 on either side of the plates 53, each link 64 being pivotally connected to the aforementioned one end of the adjacent link 62 by a pivot member 63. The opposite ends of the links 64 are pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 65 which in turn is mounted by plates 53.

In order to move the lower end of the rear wing transversely outwardly (rearwardly) of the post 16 and the upper end of the front wing transversely outwardly (forwardly) of said post, there is provided a piston-cylinder combination that includes a cylinder 68 extended into the interior of the post. The aforementioned combination also includes a piston rod 69 which at the end opposite cylinder 68 has a block 70 attached thereto to move therewith. On either side of the block there is secured the upper end of an elongated arm 71. The arms 71 extend downwardly through the post and have L-shaped lower ends to be located on opposite sides of the elongated links 62. The aforementioned L-shaped lower end portions are respectively pivotally connected by pivot members 74 to the ends of the elongated links 62 opposite the pivot member 63.

The upper end of the cylinder 68 is pivotally connected to the one end of a pair of crank arms by pivot member 81, the crank arms extending on opposite sides of the cam plate 17 and having their central portions pivotally connected thereto by a pivot member 82. As may be noted from FIGURE 3 the pivot axis of the crank arms is located a substantial elevation above the cam slot 40 and a substantial distance radially outwardly of extension of the central vertical axis of post 16. The opposite ends of the crank arms are respectively pivotally connected to short links 83 by pivot members 84, the opposite end of each short link in turn being pivotally connected to the adjacent ear 34a of cam followers member 34 by the respective pivot member 41.

As may be noted from the above description, the upper end of the cylinder 68 is operatively connected through appropriate linkages and pivot members of the clamp plates of clamp 29 that are attached to the upper end portion of the front wing plate 28 while the piston rod is conneced through linkages and pivot members to the clamp plates 53 that are attached to the lower end of the rear wing plate 50. In no way are the elongated bars 71, block 70, piston rod 69, or cylinder 68 connected to the post, but rather the post merely serves as a guide to limit any transverse movement of said members.

The cylinder 68 is a one way acting cylinder having a fluid inlet line and exhaust line 85 fluidly connected to the upper end of the cylinder, line 85 being extended to appropriate controls for alternately placing the cylinder in fluid communication with a source of air under pressure (not shown) and to a suitable exhaust (not shown). Air is applied under pressure to the cylinder 68 to force the piston rod downwardly relative to said cylinder to move the wings from an expanded position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to a retracted position of FIGURE 2. In order to expand the wings, there is provided a strong coil spring 86 that at one end is attached to the cylinder and at the opposite end attached to block 70, or if desired to the piston rod extension arms 71, the coil spring constantly urging the piston rod and cylinder to move relative one another to their relative retracted positions of FIGURE 3. The retraction of the piston rod relative the cylinder results in the wings being moved to expanded condition.

In order to minimize the transverse horizontal width of the buck assembly when the wings are in the retracted position, the lower end portion of post 16 is provided with an elongated slot 88 into which a substantial lower vertical length of the rear wing is extendable. Likewise the opposite side of the post is provided with a centrally located, vertically elongated slot 89 into which the upper portion of the front wing is extendable such as illustrated in FIGURE 2. To be noted is that the front wing in the retracted position has its upper portion located between arms 71 as is the lower portion of the rear wing.

Padding (not shown) is provided on the post, the padding having slots through which portions of the wings may be retracted into the post as previously described.

The structure of the invention having been described, the operation thereof will now be set forth. For the purposes of facilitating the description of the operation, it will be assumed that both the buck assemblies 11 and 12 are in the wing retracted position of FIGURE 2. At this time, in using this invention, a pair of pants are gripped by the waist portion and moved upwardly relative the buck assemblies 11 and 12 such that one buck assembly extends through each leg. The pants are dressed on the buck such that the front creases to be formed are adjacent the forward edges 28b of the wing plates 28 and the rear creases are adjacently the rearward edges 50]] of the wings 50. The legs and the crotch are positioned to extend generally between the dimension line A-A of FIGURE 1 with the bottom of the crotch line normally located at the top A of said figure and the bottom edges of the legs above the bottom A. The fly of the pants is left open, the fly opening facing toward support members 13 while the bottom edges of the legs are above the leg caps (not shown), i.e. above the bottom A. The waist portion of pants extends between clips 93 and the adjacent top cap to hold the pants on the buck assemblies 11, 12. After the pants have been dressed on the buck assemblies, air is exhausted from the cylinder 68 whereupon each coil spring 86 retracts the piston rod 69 into the respective cylinder 68.

The description will proceed with reference to only buck assembly 11 since the operation of the wings be tween the expanded position and the retracted position is the same for both assemblies 11 and 12. The aforementioned retraction of the piston rod results in the cylinder 68 moving downwardly in the direction of the arrow 96 and thereby pivots crank arm in the direction of the arrow 97 about pivot 82. The crank arms in pivoting in the direction of the arrow 97 from the FIGURE 2 position will through linkages 83 force the cam follower bracket 34 transversely outwardly of the post 16. In this connection it is to be noted that the length of linkage 83 is greater than the vertical dimension between pivots 41, 84. Thus the links remain generally between pivot 41 and post 16 and do not move pivot 84 over a center line between pivots 82, 41.

The vertical elevation of bracket 34 is controlled due to cam follower 38 rolling in slot 41; while due to the turn buckle connecting cam follower bracket 34 to clamp plates 29 and plate 32 bearing against the upward extension 2911, the upper portion of the front wing plate 28 moves transversely outwardly of the post about pivot 27. As a result the wing plate 28 remains under nearly constant tension as it is pivoted about pivot 27.

At the time cylinder 68 moves downwardly, the elongated arms 71 are moved upwardly to pivot links 62 in the direction of the arrow 99 about pivot member 61 and at the same time through the movement of links 62, pivot link 60 in the direction of the arrow 100 about pivot 59 Since the pivot axis of pivot 59 is fixed, surface 220 has a radius of curvature from pivot 49, the transverse move ment of wing 50 toward wing 28 is limited by the post 16, and link 60 is welded to links 62 horizontally between pivot axis of pivot 59 and pivot 74; the aforementioned pivotal movement of links 60, 62 operating through links 64 to move the lower end of wing 58 transversely outwardly of the post 16 about the pivot axis of pivot member 59 without any substantial change in the tensioning of wing 58. Any tendency to increase the tensioning due to the above described pivotal movement of the wings 28, 50 is in part compensated by the further compression of springs 35 and 46 respectively.

The transverse outward movement of the upper portion of the front wing 28 will move the upper portion of the pants leg relative to the upper portion of the back wing whereby the upper portion of the pants leg is drawn taut between said wings. Likewise the outward transverse movement of the lower portion of wing 50 moves the lower portion of the pants leg relative to the post such that said lower portion is drawn taut between lower edge portions of the wings 50, 28. Since the forward edges of wings 28 between the clamp plates 26, 29, except above the crotch line, are straight, and the front edge of the front wing and the rear edge of the back wing are relatively thin, the pants legs are drawn taut to provide a sharp crease upon presser heads (not shown) pressingly abutting against the pant legs. Additionally, since the connections between cylinder pivot 81 and elongated arm pivot 74 are not attached to the post 16, but are free to move within the interior of the post, if a greater force were exerted by top portion of the wing 50 against the trouser legs than the bottom portion; cylinder 68 the piston rod and elongated arms 71 would move downwardly to through the linkages at the lower end of the post force the lower portion of Wing 50 further transversely outwardly and thereby equalize the forces applied to the pants leg at the top portions and the bottom portions respectively by the front and rear wings.

Likewise in the event that, for example, the cylinder 68 moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow 96 sufficiently that the upper portion of wing 28 drew the top portion of pant leg taut prior to the time the lower portion of wing 50 moved transversely outwardly suificiently ward movement independent of any further movement of the upper portion of wing 28. As the lower portion of wing 50 is movable independent of the upper portion of wing 28, and due to the mounting of cylinder 68, spring 86, block 70 and elongated arm '71, the transverse outward forces on said wings are balanced.

With the pants dressed on the buck assemblies, the pants leg portions from a slightly lower elevation than the crotch line to the bottom edges of the legs are pressed between appropriately shaped presser heads (not shown). Due to the heating of the wing plates during the pressing operation, the wing plates expand and thereby loose their tensile strength. For example, with wing plates of lengths of about 45 inches being heated at about 325, the wing plate would expand about A; to A of an inch. In order to compensate for the tendency of the wing plates to loose strength due to expansion, there is provided the previously described springs 46, 35. Thus as wing plate 50 expands in a vertical direction, the spring 46 moves the nut and bolt 45, 44 upwardly to retain the rear wing plate 50 under substantially constant tension. Likewise the coil spring 35 moves the turn buckle 31 upwardly to retain the front wing plate 28 under substantially constant tension. As the result of providing springs 46, 35 the expansion of wing plates does not result in said plates flexing.

It is to be understood that it is possible to eliminate springs 35, 45 by making the edges 28a, 50a, which are opposite the creases, substantially thicker and thereby minimize the tendency of the wings to flex due to the application of heat to the wing plates.

After the pants leg portions have been pressed and the presser heads expanded, air under pressure is again applied to the end portion of the cylinder adjacent pivot 81 to thereby expand the piston rod 69 relative the cylinder. This results in the cylinder moving relative the elongated arms 71 in a direction opposite the arrows 96 and the elongated arms moving relative the cylinder in the direction of the arrow 96. As a result of the aforementioned movement of the cylinder, the crank arms 80 are pivoted in the direction opposite arrow 97 to through links 83, move the cam follower bracket 34 transversely toward the post to retract the front wing. The aforementioned movement of the elongated arms 71, operating through the linkages at the lower end of the post, transversely move the lower end portion of the wing 50 transversely toward the post to move the wing 50 to a retracted position. Since the crank arms pivot about the axis at pivot 32 on one transverse side of the central axis of the post and the linkages at the lower end of the post pivot about a fixed pivot (pivot 59) on the opposite transverse side of the post, the upper portion of the front wing is movable into the slot 89 and the lower portion of wing 50 is movable into the post through slot 88 to thereby minimize the transverse width between the back edge 50b of the back wing and the front edge 28b of the front wing while at the same time permitting maximizing the transverse width of the wing plates.

The transverse dimension of slot 40 is such that when the roller 38 is closely adjacent the curved edge 4012 of the slot, the upper portion of back edge 28a of the front wing is closely adjacent the portion of the post diametrically opposite slot 89. The roller 38 in abutting against the back curved portion 40b of slot 40 limits the retraction of the upper portion of the front wing while the maximum expansion of the piston rod with the roller bearing against the slot curved edge 40c limits the expansion of the upper portion of the upper wing. In this connection it is to be noted that the edge 50a of the back wing in the retracted position is closely adjacent the portion of the post di-ametrically opposite slot 88.

During the cooling of the wing plates, the tension on the wing plates remains substantially the same since as the wing plates contract, the contracting forces are compensated for by compression of springs 46, 35. Likewise, in the wings moving to the retracted position, they are movable independent of one another in a manner analogous to the independent movability described with reference to the expansion of the wing plates.

Through the provision of structure to compensate for the expansion and retraction of the wing plates, and a floating actuator whereby the forces opposing the expansion of the upper portion of front wing are transmitted to the lower portion of the back wing, relatively thin wing plates may be utilized whereby sharper creases are obtained than possible with the structure of the prior art. At the same time the wing plates are held sufliciently taut that they do not tend to flex or buckle during the movement between a retracted and expanded condition nor during the heating and cooling thereof. Preferably the front and rear wing plates are made of stainless steel and are of a thickness in the range of .015 to .020 inch at at least edge portions 28b, 50b.

As many widely apparently different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

What is'claimed is:

1. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite end portion, a first elongated wing assembly extending along one transverse side of the support member, a second elongated wing assembly extending along the opposite transverse side of the support member, each wing assembly having a one end and an opposite end, means for movably attaching the one end of the second wing assembly to the one end portion of the support member, means for movably attaching the opposite end of the first wing assembly to the opposite end portion of the support member, and means connected to the one end of the first wing assembly and the opposite end of the second wing assembly for transversely moving said first wing assembly one end and second wing assembly opposite end transversely away from the support member and alternately toward the support member, the last mentioned means including a piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod, first linking means movably connected to the cylinder for, upon operation of said combination, moving the first wing assembly as set forth above, and second linkage means movably connected to the piston rod for, upon operation of said combination, moving the second wing assembly as set forth above.

2. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite end portion, a first elongated wing assembly extending along one transverse side of the support member, a second elongated wing assembly extending along the opposite transverse side of the support member, each wing assembly having a one end and an opposite end and including a relatively thin, flexible, elongated wing plate and a clamp member clampingly attached to each elongated end of the respective wing plate, means for movably attaching the one end of the second wing assembly to the one end portion of the support member, the 'last mentioned means including a transversely outwardly extending first mounting member rigidly joined to said support member and means mounted by said mounting member and connected to the adjacent clamp member of the second wing assembly for resiliently urging the second wing assembly plate toward the first mounting member, and means for movably attaching the opposite end of the first wing assembly to the opposite end portion of the support member, and means connected to the one end of the first wing assembly and the opposite end of the second wing assembly for transversely moving said first wing assembly one end and second wing assembly opposite 9 end transversely away from the support member and alternately toward the support member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said last mentioned means includes means for movably attaching said first linkage means to said one end portion and means for movably attaching said second linkage means to said opposite end portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the support member is tubular, that said cylinder and piston rod are extended into the interior of the tubular support member and are movably relative thereto and that said last mentioned means includes means in the tubular support member for constantly resiliently urging said piston rod to a retracted condition relative said cylinder, said cylinder having an air inlet opposite its end through which the piston rod extends outwardly relative to said cylinder.

5. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite end portion, a first elongated Wing assembly extending along one transverse side of the support member, a second elongated Wing assembly extending along the opposite transverse side of the support member, each wing assembly having a one end and an opposite end, means for movably attaching the one end of the second wing assembly to the one end portion of the support member, means for movably attaching the opposite end of the first wing assembly to the opposite end portion of the support member, and means connected to the one end of the first Wing assembly and the opposite end of the second wing assembly for transversely moving said first wing assembly one end and second wing assembly opposite end transversely away from the support member and alternately toward the support member, the last mentioned means including a piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod, a first cam member having a first camming surface mounted on the support member one end portion to extend transversely outwardly thereof, first linkage means movably mounted on the said first cam member, connected to the first wing assembly and connected to the cylinder for transversely moving the first wing assembly as the cylinder is moved, said first wing assembly having a cam bearing against said first cam surface to retain the first wing assembly under tension, a second cam member mounted on the support member opposite end to extend transversely outwardly of the support member on the side opposite said first cam member, said second cam member having a second camming surface, and second linkage means movably connected to the second cam member, connected to the piston rod and connected to the second wing assembly for moving said second wing assembly transversely outward of the support member, said second wing assembly having a cam follower bearing against the second cam surface to in cooperation therewith retain the second wing assembly under tension.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said first wing assembly includes an axially elongated clamp member having one end portion extending toward said first cam member and a second end portion clampingly attached to said wing plate, means pivotally connected to said first linkage means for mounting said first cam follower to ride on said first cam surface, and means connecting the first cam follower mounting means to the clamp member first end portion for resiliently urging the clamp member toward the first cam member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said means for attaching the first wing assembly to the opposite end of the support member comprises a pivotal connection, that said first cam member has a transversely elongated cam slot having said first cam surface, said first cam surface having substantially equal radii of curvature from the pivot axis of said first pivotal connection.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said means for attaching the one end of the second .wing assembly to the one end of the support member includes a pivot member, and means attached to the support member for mounting said pivot member, the last mentioned means being joined to the second cam means, and that the second linkage means includes a piston rod extension having one end connected to the piston rod and a second end, a link having one end pivotally connected to the second cam member and linkage means pivotally connecting the extension second end to the second wing assembly, said link having an opposite end connected to the linkage means intermediate its connection to the extension and the second Wing assembly.

9. A buck assembly for having a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed dressed thereon comprising an axially elongated support member having a first end portion and a second axially opposite end portion, a first mounting member mounted on said first end portion to extend transverse outwardly therefrom, a second mounting member mounted on the support member second end portion, a first axially elongated wing plate having a first end and a second end, means for connecting said first wing plate second end to the support member second end portion on the same transverse side of the support member as said first mounting member for limited movement relative thereto, a second axially elongated wing plate having a first end and a second end, means connected to the second wing plate first end mounting said second wing plate first end for limited movement on the first end portion of said support member on the transverse opposite side from the first mounting member, an axially extending piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between the an extended condition and a retracted condition, first linkage means mounted on said first mounting members for interconnecting the cylinder and the first end of first wing plate to transversely move said first wing plate between a transversely extended position and a retracted position as the cylinder moves relative the piston rod, and second linkage means movably connected to the second mounting member for interconnecting the piston rod to the second end of the second wing plate to transversely move said second wing plate between transversely extending position and a retracted position as the piston rod moves relative the cylinder, said cylinder and piston rod being free to move axially relative the support member.

10. In a buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a first end portion and a second end portion, an axially elongated wing plate having an elongated intermediate portion, a first enlarged transverse edge portion, and a second enlarged transverse edge portion, said enlarged portions being joined to opposite end of said intermediate portion, first clamp plate portions bearing against opposite sides of the intermediate portion and the first enlarged edge portion, means for clampingly retaining the first clamp plate portions to the wing plate adjacent said first edge portion to extend axially away from the Wing plate in one direction, second clamp portions bearing against opposite sides of the intermediate portion and the second enlarged edge portion, means for clampingly retaining the second clamp plate portions to the Wing plate adjacent said second edge portion to extend axially away from the wing plate in a direction opposite said one direction, and means mounted on the support member and connected to the first and second clamp plate portions for transversely moving said clamp plate portions relative the post and constantly urging the first and second clamp plate portions to axially move away from one another to retain the wing plate under substantially constant tension.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the Wing plate intermediate portion has a thickness throughout in the range of about .015 to .020 inch and is made of metal.

12. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite end portion, a first axially elongated, relatively thin, flexible wing plate on one transverse side of the support member, a second axially elongated, relatively thin, flexible wing plate on the opposite transverse side of the support member, each of the wing plates having a one end portion adjacent the support member one end portion and an opposite end portion adjacent the support member opposite end portion, and means mounted on the support member and connected to opposite axial ends of the wing plates for constantly axially tensioning said wing plates and selectively moving said wing plates a limited amount transversely outwardly of the support member and alternately transversely inwardly toward said support member, the last mentioned means including a mounting member attached to the support member one end portion, means movably mounted on the mounting member and connected to the first wing plate one end portion for constantly resilient urging said first wing plate to move relative the mounting member in a direction of elongation of said first wing plate to retain said first wing plate under tension, and means movably connected to said mounting member and the resilient urging means for selectively moving the resilient urging means transversely relative the support member and thereby transversely move the first wing plate.

13. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite I end portion, a first axially elongated wing plate on one transverse side of the support member, a second axially elongated wing plate on the opposite transverse side of the support member, each of the wing plates having a one end portion adjacent the support member one end portion and an opposite end portion adjacent the support member opposite end portion, and means mounted on the support member and connected to opposite axial ends of the wing plates for constantly axially tensioning said wing plates and selectively move said wing plates a limited amount transversely outwardly of the support member and alternately transversely inwardly toward said support member, the aforementioned means including means attached to the support member for mounting the one end of the second wing plate to pivot adjacent the support member one end portion, means attached to the support member for mounting the opposite end of the first wing plate on the transverse opposite side of the support member from the second wing plate to pivot adjacent the support member opposite end portion, and means mounted on the support member and interconnecting the first wing plate one end and the second wing plate opposite end for selectively moving the wing plates to pivot about its respective pivot mounting means transversely outward of the support member and alternately transversely inwardly toward the support member.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized in that the second wing plate pivot mounting means includes a clamp member attached to first end of the second wing plate, a transversely extending mounting member having one end attached to the support member one end portion, and an opposite end portion, and means mounted on the mounting member opposite end portion and pivotally connected to the clamp member for resiliently urging said second wing plate toward said mounting member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that said interconnecting means includes a first clamp member attached to the first wing plate one end, a second clamp member attached to the second wing plate opposite end, a first cam member attached to the support member one end portion to extend transversely outward of the support member on the same side as the first wing plate, and having a first transversely extending camming surface,

a second cam member joined to the support member opplate and having a second transversely extending camming surface, a cam follower on the second clamp member riding against the second camming surface, cam follower means connected to the first clamp member for riding against the first camming surface, and actuator means mounted by said cam member and interconnecting the second clamp member and the cam follower means for respectively moving the first wing plate one end and the second wing plate opposite end transversely outwardly of the support member and alternately transversely toward the support member while the cam follower and cam follower means bear against the respective camming surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the cam follower means includes a second cam follower, means for mounting said second cam follower, said actuator means being connected to the second cam follower mounting means, and means for connecting the second cam follower mounting means to the first clamp member to resiliently urge the first clamp member toward the second cam follower and permit limited pivotal movement of the first clamp member relative the second cam follower mounting member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that the first clamp member has an axially extending projecting portion generally extending toward the second cam follower and that the second cam follower mounting member has means bearable against opposite transverse sides of the projecting portion to limit the transverse movement of said projecting portion relative the second cam follower mounting member.

18. A buck assembly for having a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed dressed thereon comprising an axially elongated tubular post having a first end portion and a second portion, a first mounting member mounted on said post first end portion to extend transversely outwardly therefrom, a second mounting member mounted on the post second end portion a first axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for connecting said first wing plate second end portion to the post second end portion on the same transverse side of the post as said first mounting member for limited movement relative the post, a second axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means connected to the second wing plate first end portion for mounting it for limited movement on the post first end portion on the transverse opposite side from the first mounting member, said post first end portion having a first axially elongated slot opening toward the first wing plate first portion and a second axially elongated slot opening toward the second wing pl-ate second portion, an axially extending piston cylinder combination at least in part within the post and having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between an extended condition and a retracted condition, first linkage means mounted on said first mounting member for interconnecting the cylinder and the first wing plate first end portion to transversely move said first wing plate first end portion between a position substantially transversely outwardly of the post and a second position extending at least partially into said first slot, and second linkage means movably connected to the second mounting member for interconnecting the piston rod the second wing second end portion to transversely move said second wing plate second end portion between a position transversely outwardly of the opposite side of the post from the first wing plate and a second position extending at least partially into the post second slot.

19. A buck assembly for having a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed dressed thereon comprising an axially elongated support member having a first end portion and a second portion, a first mounting member mounted on said support member first end portion to extend transversely outwardly therefrom, a second mounting member mounted on the support member second end portion a first axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for connecting said first Wing plate second end portion to the support member second end portion on the same transverse side of the support member as said first mounting member for limited movement relative said support member, a second axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means connected to the second wing plate first end portion for mounting it for limited movement on the support member first end portion on the transverse opposite side from the first mounting member, an axially extending piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between an extended condition and a retracted condition, first linkage means mounted on said first mounting member for interconnecting the cylinder and the first wing plate first end portion to transversely move said first wing plate first end portion between a position substantially transversely outwardly of the support member and a transversely retracted position, and second linkage means movably connected to the second mounting member for interconnecting the piston rod to the second wing second end portion to transversely move said second wing plate second end portion between a position transversely outwardly of the opposite side of the support member from the first wing plate and a transversely retracted position, each of said mounting members having a transversely elongated camming surface, said first linkage means having a cam bearing against the first member camming surface and said second linkage means having a cam follower bearing against the second member camming surface.

20. A buck assembly for having a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed dressed thereon comprising an axially elongated post having a first end portion and a second portion, a first mounting member mounted on said post first end portion to extend transversely outwardly therefrom, a second mounting member mounted on the post second end portion, a first axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for pivotally connecting said first wing plate second end portion to the post second end portion on the same transverse side of the post as said first mounting member for limited movement relative the post, a second axially elongated wing plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means connected to the second wing plate first end portion for mounting it for limited pivotal movement on the post first end portion on the transverse opposite side from the first mounting member, and resiliently urging the wing plate to move in its direction of elongation to maintain the second wing plate under tension, an axially extending piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod movable relative the cylinder between an extended condition and a retracted condition, first linkage means mounted on said first mounting member for interconnecting the cylinder and the first wing plate first end portion to transversely move said first wing plate first end portion between an extended position substantially transversely outwardly of the post and second retracted position, and second linkage means movably connected to the second mounting member for interconnecting the piston rod to the second wing second end portion to transversely move said second wing plate second end portion between an extended position transversely outwardly of the opposite side of the post from the first wing plate and a second retracted position, said first linkage means including a clamp member attached to the first wing plate first portion, a linkage mounting member, means for resiliently connecting the clamp member to the linkage mounting member to, through the clamp member, retain the first wing plate under tension, and linkage means movably mounted on the first mounting member for interconnecting the linkage mounting member and the cylinder to move the linkage mounting member as the cylinder moves relative the piston rod.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further characterized in that the first mounting member has a first cam slot, said first cam slot having a transverse camming surface with equal radii of curvature from the pivot axis of the means pivotally mounting the first wing, that there is provided a cam follower on the linkage mounting member to bear against the above camming surface to retain the first wing plate under substantially constant tension as it is moved transversely relative the post, that the second mounting member has a camming surface of substantially equal radii of curvature from the pivot axis of the means pivotally mounting the second wing, and that said second linkage means includes a second clamp member attached to said second wing plate second portion, a cam follower on said second clamp member to bear against the last mentioned camming surface to retain the second wing plate under substantially constant tension as it is transversely moved relative the post and linkage means movably mounted on the second mounting member for interconnecting the second clamp member and the piston rod to move transversely the second clamp member as the piston rod moves relative the post.

22. A buck assembly for a tubular portion of a garment to be pressed comprising an axially elongated support member having a one end portion and an opposite end portion, a first elongated wing assembly extending along one transverse side of the support member, a second elongated wing assembly extending along the opposite transverse side of the support member, each wing assembly having a one end and an opposite end, a transversely extending mounting member having one end rigidly attached to the opposite end of said support member, means for pivotally attaching the opposite end of the first wing assembly to said mounting member at a location transversely outwardly from said support member and means connected to the opposite ends of the second wing assembly and to the one end of the first wing assembly and mounted on said support member for transversely moving said first wing assembly one end and second wing assembly opposite end transversely away from the support member and alternately toward the support member, the last mentioned means including a piston cylinder combination having a cylinder and a piston rod, and linkage means movably connected to the one end of the support member and to the piston rod for, upon operation of said combination, moving the second wing assembly opposite end transversely relative said support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,841,719 1/1932 Emery et al 22373 2,092,278 9/1937 Harvey 22373 2,245,665 6/1941 Hanson 22373 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BUCK ASSEMBLY FOR A TUBULAR PORTION OF A GARMENT TO BE PRESSED COMPRISING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A ONE END PORTION AND AN OPPOSITE END PORTION, A FIRST ELONGATED WING ASSEMBLY EXTENDING ALONG ONE TRANSVERSE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, A SECOND ELONGATED WING ASSEMBLY EXTENDING ALONG THE OPPOSITE TRANSVERSE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, EACH WING ASSEMBLY HAVING A ONE END AND AN OPPOSITE END, MEANS FOR MOVABLY ATTACHING THE ONE END OF THE SECOND WING ASSEMBLY TO THE ONE END PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, MEANS FOR MOVABLY ATTACHING THE OPPOSITE END OF THE FIRST WING ASSEMBLY TO THE OPPOSITE END PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ONE END OF THE FIRST WING ASSEMBLY AND THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SECOND WING ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSVERSELY MOVING SAID FIRST WING ASSEMBLY ONE END AND SECOND WING ASSEMBLY OPPOSITE END TRANSVERSELY AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT MEMBER AND ALTERNATELY TOWARD THE SUPPORT MEMBER, THE LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A PISTON CYLINDER COMBINATION HAVING A CYLINDER AND A PISTON ROD, FIRST LINKING MEANS MOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER FOR, UPON OPERATION OF SAID COMBINATION, MOVING THE FIRST WING ASSEMBLY AS SET FORTH ABOVE, AND SECOND LINKAGE MEANS MOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE PISTON ROD FOR, UPON OPERATION OF SAID COMBINATION, MOVING THE SECOND WING ASSEMBLY AS SET FORTH ABOVE. 